Media statement following Minister Lidington's meeting with Foreign Minister Lukšić
Minister Lidington stressed UK's full support for Montenegro's Euro-Atlantic ambitions
Minister for Europe, David Lidington MP has made a statement upon meeting with Montenegrin Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Igor Lukšić:
I am happy to be in Montenegro. Mr Lukšić and I have just completed our talks. This is part of a continuing pattern of senior bilateral contact between our countries. Mr Luksic was in London in October. A Montenegrin parliamentary delegation visited us in November. Chief EU Negotiator Pejović was in London two weeks ago.
In all of these discussions, we in the UK have stressed our full support for Montenegro’s Euro-Atlantic ambitions. On the EU, Britain remains one of enlargement’s most steadfast supporters. It is a means of enhancing Europe’s prosperity and security. We remain a strong advocate of Montenegro’s EU accession and are pleased to be cooperating in a number of practical areas to help Montenegro not only meet the requirements of the acquis but also implement and enforce the new legislation required. Montenegro faces a hard road ahead and the necessary reforms will sometimes be difficult, but it will continue to have the UK’s full support.
Similarly, we fully support Montenegro’s ambition to become a member of NATO. Here, too, Montenegro has made significant progress towards meeting the criteria for membership. While any decision on membership is taken by the Alliance as a whole, we continue to help Montenegro meet the outstanding requirements.